Rotary drilling apparatus and method



- Sept. 24, 1935. 2. A. DYEI R- ROTARY DRILLING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed May 1, 1924 Jwyentoz g6) Patented Sept. 24, 1935 UNITED STATES ROTARY DRILLING APPARATUS AND METHOD Zeb A. Dyer, Long Beach, Calif. Application May 1, 1924, Serial No. 710,280

19 Claims.

This invention relates to-rotary well drilling apparatus, and the invention resides in the method of drilling as well as in the apparatus itself. In the usual practice in drilling deep wells, the

weight of the tool string is supported partially on the derrick, so that the entire weight of the tool string does not press the drilling tool against the bottom of the hole; however, it is impossible for the driller to know exactly what force or pressure is exerted upon the tool. In these operations the judgment and experience of the driller becomes an important factor. The general object of this invention is to provide simple apparatus operating in such a way that the pressure exerted by the weight of the tool string upon the drilling tool can be nicely controlled; also to provide apparatus of this kind with automatic means for regulating this pressure so that it can be substantiallymaintained at any predeter- 20 mined amount or degree. The invention contemplates the use of hydraulic means associated with the apparatus in such a way that the indicated pressure in the hydraulic means operates as an index of the downward pressure which is 25 exerted by the drill string upon the drilling tool, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide automatic means controlled by the hydraulic pressure for taking up or slackening the cable which supports the tool string in such a way 30 that the pressure on the drilling tool will be automatically controlled. v

Further objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel method and 35 combination of parts to be described hereinafter, all of which contribute to produce an emcient rotary drilling apparatus and method.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in the following specification, while the 40 broad scope of the invention-is pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation illustratinga derrick fitted with my apparatus, certain parts being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section illustrating a type of hydraulic device which I may employ in practicing my invention.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the hydraulic device shown in Figure 2.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation showing the derrick top fitted with a hydraulic device which operates to support the entire crown block.

, Fig. 5 is a detail front elevation of a gauge de- 55 vice which constitutes a feature of the invention.

In practicing my method of drilling a well with a rotary drill string, I support a portion of the weight of the tool string through the agency of a confined fluid under pressure and I indicate the portion of the weight which is supported; I then 5 raise or lower the drill stem to control the proportion of the weight supported in such a way as to regulate the pressure of the tool string on the bottom of the well during the drilling operation; and I control this raising or lowering of the drill l0 stem through the agency of the fluid pressure.

I shall now proceed to describe an apparatus embodying my invention and which may be employed for practicing my method:

A tool string I, of any suitable construction such as used in rotary drilling, passes downward through a rotary table 2 and is supported at its upper end on the swivel 3 of an elevator 4. In practicing my invention I provide means for supporting the tool string in the well, and I pro- 20 vide means for automatically controlling the same to regulate the pressure of the tool string on the bottom of the well during the drilling operation. In the present instance, the elevator 4 is supported by a traveler block 5 which is supported on the falls of a cable 6, which cable passes over sheaves l at the crown block 8 at the top of the derrick and thence passes down to the derrick floor, where it is carried on a drum 9.

According to my invention, I provide movable means for engaging the cable, and having means associated with it for indicating to the driller substantially what portion or proportion of the weight of the tool string is being supported by the cable. I prefer to accomplish this by means of a hydraulic device, and if desired this hydraulic device may be of the type indicated by the numeral ill (see Figures 1 to 3), and comprising a pillow block operating as a guide for a regulator sheave l I, said sheave corresponding in position to the usual crown sheave, that is to say, the cable coming up from the drum 9 passes over this sheave, after which it'passes through the sheaves of the traveler block and the sheaves I of the crown block.

The hydraulic device includes a hydraulic cylinder l2 having plunger l3 which passes up through the upper head of the cylinder and carries a cross-head I4, said cross-head being guided in slots IS in the pillow block and operating as the shaft for the regulator sheave ll.

During the drilling operation the head at the lower endof the plunger i3 is supported on a liquid l6, such as water or oil, which is supplied to the lower end of the cylinder by a pipe I! connected to a pump I8 which may be located on the floor I 9 of the derrick 20. A pressure-actuated device is provided, such as the gauge 2 I, connected to the piping, controlled by the pressure in the pipes and, if desired, also operating to indicate the pressure existing in the lower end of the hydraulic cylinder 2. If desired, this gauge may be attached to the pipe H (see Figure 1). This gauge is preferably of a common type of gauge known as a recording gauge and comprising a dial 22 which rotates once in every twenty-four hours; this gauge includes an arm 23 pivoted at 24 and carrying a pen 25 which touches the face of the dial. The position of this arm is controlled by the pressure within the gauge so that as time passes the pen 25 draws a line 26 on the face of the dial, indicating the hydraulic pressure at any time.

I prefer to provide means such,as an indicator or scale 21 at the bottom of the derrick with ,which a pointer 28 cooperates, said pointer being carried on the lower end of a rod 29 which is attached to the cross-head I4. In this way, the pointer 28 is made to indicate on the scale 21 the position of the head of the plunger I3, in its cylinder I2. This enables the driller on the derrick floor to know the position of the plunger and enables him to keep the plunger, during the drilling operation, at an intermediate cylinder.

The water may be supplied to the pump through a pipe 30 from a reservoir or tank 3 I, and a return pipe 32 may be provided, connected with the upper end of the hydraulic cylinder, for returning water from the upper end of the cylinder to the tank. A suitable valve may be provided, such as the valve 33 which is located between the pump and the "tank 3 I.

Suitable means is provided for rotating the drum 9. If desired, the drum may be rotated by hand, and in rotating it the driller would be governed by the indications of the pressure on the gauge 2 I. The reading of this gauge is, of course, an indication to the driller of the portion of the weight of the string which is supported on the As the driller knows the total elevator sheave I I. weight of the tool string, he therefore is able to determine the amount or proportion of ..the weight of the tool string which is supported by the bottom of the well. In other words, he has an accurate index of the, pressure of the drilling tool against the bottom of the well. If the driller desired to increase the proportion of the weight supported on the cable he may. accomplish this by slightly accelerating the pump; or the drum 9 could be rotated by hand as suggested. I prefer to provide automatic means for controlling this drum through the agency of the indicator 2| so that the cable 6 will be slightly taken up or paid out, asmay be necessary to regulate the pressure of the drill against the formation being drilled at the moment. In order to accomplish this, I provide the drum 9 with a worm wheel indicated by the dotted line 34, and this worm wheel meshes with a worm 35 on a shaft 36, which may be rotated by a belt 3'|'-'from an electric motor 38. This motor may be driven in either direction by utilizing-thegauge 2| to izlose the forward driving circuit 99 or a reversing driving circuit 40. These circuits or conductors 39 and 40 are connected respectively with two contacts ,4 I, 42 which are adjustably'mountedin' a slot 43 on the gauge 2| and in the path of an insulated indicator arm 44. Both circuits have a common return 'wire45 which is run into the casing of the gauge 2| and point in the rises in the hydraulic cylinder, it will be evident that if the pressure in the hydraulic cylinder drops to a predetermined point, the arm will engage the contact 42 and close the circuit through the conductor 39. This will start the motor 38 and will drive or control the drum so as to increase the tension in the cable 6 and thereby increase the proportion of the weight which is carried on the cable.

In the drilling operation, the rotary table may be rotated in the usual manner by a shaft 46 carrying the bevel gear 41 meshing with bevel teeth on the under side of the table.

I prefer to provide a single regulating sheave over which the cable passes, and supported by the hydraulic device, for the reason that this arrangement enables a relatively small hydraulic pressure to be employed, but if desired, I may not employ a single regulating sheave, as illustrated in Figure 2, but may support the entire crown block 48 on two hydraulic cylinders 49 (see Figure 4). The lower end 'of these cylinders would be supplied with liquid under pressure from the pump in the same manner as described in connection with the hydraulic cylinder I2, and in all other respects the operation would be substantially the same as that described. With this arrangement, however, the pressure in the cylinder 49 willbe relatively very greatand will actually support the entire weight of the tool string when it is not resting on the bottom of the well.

The valve 33 is normally closed, but when opened permits the water in the pressure system to drain back into thettank;

A relief valve 50 may be provided, enabling pressure to be relieved back into the pipe 30.

It is understood that the embodiment of the invention described herein is only one of the many embodiments this invention may take, and

I do not wish to be limited in the practice of the invention, nor in the claims, to the particular 5 embodiment set forth.

What I claim is:

1. In a rotary well drilling apparatus, the com bination of a derrick, a tool-string, means for supporting the tool-string, a traveler block supporting the tool-string, crown sheaves, a cable passing over the crown sheaves and supporting the traveler block, a hydraulic device having means for engaging the cable to tighten or slacken the same, and automatic means controlled by the hydraulic pressure for taking up the cable or paying the same out to-regulate the pressure of the tool-string on the bottom of the well during thedrilling operation.

2. In a rotary well drilling apparatus, the combination of a derrick. a tool-string, a traveler block supporting the tool-string, a crown block on the derrick having sheaves, a cable passing over the sheaves and supporting the traveler block, a drum carrying the end of the cable for taking up the cable, a hydraulic device having a sheave over which the cable passes'and operating to controlthe tension in the cable, and automatic with sheaves on the derrick, a cable passing over the crown sheaves andtsupporting the traveler block, a regulator sheave over which the cable passes, a hydraulic device for adjustably moving the regulator sheave to control the tension in the cable, a pressure-actuated device controlled by the pressure in the hydraulic device, a drumca'rrying the end of the cable, and automatic means controlled by the pressure-actuated device for rotating the drum to regulate the pressure of the tool-string on the bottom of the well during the drilling operation.

4. In a rotary well drilling apparatus, the combination of a derrick, a tool-string, a traveler block supporting the tool-string, a crown block with sheaves on thederrick, a cable passing over the crown sheaves and supporting the traveler block, a regulator sheave over which the cable passes, a hydraulic device for adjustably moving the regulator sheave to control the tension in the cable, a pressure-actuated device controlled by the pressure in the hydraulic device, adrum carrying the end of the cable, a motor for rotating the drum, and means controlled by the pressureactuated device for starting the motor to rotate the drum and thereby regulate the pressure of the tool-string on the bottom of the well during the drilling operation,

5. In a rotary well drilling apparatus, the combination of a derrick, a tool-string, a traveler block supporting the tool-string, a crown block with sheaves on the derrick, a cable passing over the crown sheaves and supporting the traveler block, a regulator sheave over which the cable passes, a hydraulic cylinder having a plunger carrying the regulator sheave for adjustably moving the regulator sheave to control the tension in the cable, a pressure-actuated device controlled by the pressure in the hydraulic device, a drum carrying the end of the cable, and automatic means controlled by the pressure-actuated device for rotating the drum to take up or pay out the cable and thereby regulate the pressure of the toolstring on the bottom of the well during the drilling operation.

6. In a rotary well drilling apparatus, the combination of a derrick, a tool-string, means including a traveler block, cables and hydraulic means for supporting the tool-string in the well, and means controlled by the pressure in the hydraulic means for automatically raising or lowering the traveler block to regulate the pressure of the toolstring on the bottom of the well while the drill is rotating.

7. In a rotary well drilling apparatus, the combination of a derrick, a tool-string, a traveler block for supporting the tool-string, a crown block on the derrick with sheaves, a cable passing over the sheaves and supporting the traveler block, a drum carrying the end of the cable, indicating means for measuring the portion of the weight of the tool string that is supported on the cable, and automatic means for controlling the drum through the agency of said indicator means to regulate the pressure of the tool-string on the bottom of the well during the drilling operation.

8. In a rotary oil or gas well drilling apparatus, the combination with a rotary table, rod line, and hoisting mechanism including a hoisting drum and a hoisting cable supporting the rod line, of means for feeding and controlling the rod line including an auxiliary feeding device having means engaging the hoisting cable intermediate the ends thereof, the connections between the hoisting drum and rod line being so arranged that a predetermined feeding movement of the feeding device effects a substantially reduced feeding movement of the rod line.

9. In a rotary oil or gas well drilling apparatus, the combination with a rotary table, rod line, and hoisting mechanism including a hoisting drum and a hoisting cable supporting the rod line, of means for feeding and controlling the rod line including an auxiliary hydraulic feeding device having means engaging the hoisting cable inter- 1 mediate the ends thereof, the connections between the hoisting drum and rod line being soarranged that a predetermined feeding movement of the feeding device effects a, substantially reduced feeding movement of the rod line.

10. In a rotary oil or gas well drilling apparatus, the combination with a rotary table, rod line, and hoisting mechanism including a hoisting drum and a hoisting cable supporting the rod line, of auxiliary feeding means for the rod line including a hydraulic feeding device having a cylinder and a piston in said cylinder having means thereon for engaging the hoisting cable intermediate the ends thereof, the connections between the hoisting drum and rod line being so arranged that a predetermined feeding movement of the feeding device effects a substantially reduced feeding movement of the rod line.

11. In airotary oil or gas well drilling apparatus, the combination with a rotary table, rod line, and hoisting mechanism including a hoisting drum and a hoisting cable supporting the rod line, of hydraulic feeding means including means engageable with the hoisting cable intermediate the ends thereof whereby independent operation of said hydraulic feeding means and the hoisting mechanism maybe obtained, the connections between the hoisting drum and rod line being so arranged that a predetermined feeding movement of the feeding device effects a substantially re- 4 duced movement of the rod line.

12. In a rotary oil or gas well drilling apparatus, the combination with a rotary table, rod line, and hoisting mechanism including a hoisting drum and a hoisting cable supporting the rod 5 line cable, of hydraulic feeding means including a cylinder and a piston therein having means thereon engaging the hoisting cable intermediate the ends thereof whereby independent operation of said hydraulic feeding means and said hoisting mechanism may be obtained, the connections between the hoisting drum and rod line being so arranged that a predetermined feeding movement of the feeding device effects a substantially reduced feeding movement of'the rod line.

13. An organization of the general character described, comprising: rotatable means for paying out and taking up a cable which is subject to a variable tension; and means, responsive to variations in said tension, for positively so rotating said rotatable means in either of two directions as to maintain said tension within predetermined limits.

14. In a well drilling organization a drill tool adapted to rest against an earth formation with a substantially uniform pressure for maximum cutting efliciency, a drill string connected therewith and having its weight partially superimposed thereon, a drill cable adjustably supporting said string to maintain the substantially constant pressure of said drill tool, a calf wheel drum around which said cable is wound, a motor driving means operatively connecting said motor and drum, and means whereby variation in tension of said driving means as produced by variation in the weight sustaining qualities of the earth formation within which the drill is working will act to rotate said calf wheel drum to wind the cable in a manner to restore the drill to a predetermined pressure upon the earth formation through which it is working.

15. In a well drilling organization, a drill string. provided with a boring tool, a cable providing a predetermined partial support for the string, winding means for said cable, driving means for operating said winding means to take in or give out cable, and means responsive to the tension in said cable for controlling said driving means to operate said winding means so as to maintain a predetermined constant tension in said cable corresponding to said predetermined partial support for the drilling string and thereby maintain a substantially constant pressure of the boring tool upon the earth formation.

16. In a well drilling organization, a drill string, a cable providing a determined partial support for the string, winding means on to which said cable is wound, means holding said winding means inoperative when the cable is supporting the determined proportion of weight of the drill string, and acting automatically and positively to operate said winding means when the proportion of weight supported by the cable varies from the determined proportion to re-establish said determined proportion whereby a substantially constant pressure of the boring tool of the drill string upon earth formation will be maintained.

17. In a well drilling organization a drill string, a cable providing a determined partial support for the string, winding means on to which said cable is wound, means holding said winding means in-'- operative when the cable is supporting the determined proportion of weight of the drill string, and acting automatically and positively to operate the winding means in either direction when the proportion of weight supported by the cable 5 varies from the determined proportion to reestablish said proportion whereby a substantially constant pressure of the boring tool of the drill string upon the earth formation will be maintained.

18. In a well-drilling organization having a drill string at the lower end thereof, a cable supporting the string, said cable being under a tension determined by the weight of the string and the character of formation upon which the drill i5 toolis acting, and means whereby variations in the tension of said cable, during operation thereof will act to automatically raise or lower the cable and the drill string as required to maintain a substantially constant weight upon the particular 20 formation being drilled.

19. In a well-drilling organization having a drill string at the lower end thereof, a cable supporting the string, said cable being under a tension determined by the weight of the string and 2. the character of formationupon which the drill tool is acting, and means whereby an increased tension of said cable during operation thereof will act to automatically lower the cable and the drill string, and a decreased tension of said cable 30 during operation thereof will act to automatically raise the cable and the drill string thereby to maintain a substantially constant weight upon the particular formation being drilled.

ZEB A. DY'ER. 

